Nissan Motor lowered its FY2026 global sales outlook to 2.97 million to 3 million vehicles, citing China-market pressure as it plans to use more China-developed models in overseas markets.
The new range is below the 3.15 million vehicle projection Nissan issued Aug. 3; before that revision, the company had forecast 3.3 million. In its Nov. 11 release, Nissan linked the adjustment to softer demand, a more rapid-than-anticipated move to new-energy vehicles in China and tougher competition there.
At Nissan’s Nov. 11 earnings call, CEO Ivan Espinosa said the export program is planned to cover five China-developed products and 12 regional clusters in the near term. The existing scope is two products across two markets, according to his remarks.
Separately, Espinosa told CNBC that Nissan is using local technology to develop vehicles for consumers in China, with lower costs and faster development as aims. He said Nissan could respond to Chinese rivals by adopting similar capabilities, including “speed, cost, and good technology.”
Nissan maintained its FY2026 operating-profit outlook at ¥200 billion and its target of more than ¥1 trillion in automotive net cash at fiscal year-end, according to the Nov. 11 release. Second-quarter operating profit fell 96% to ¥2.1 billion ($13 million). The company said the decline reflected the expiration of a benefit recorded a year earlier when U.S. emissions-related expenses were lower.
Revenue for the quarter was ¥3.1078 trillion, an 8.2% increase from a year earlier.
Nissan had achieved ¥365 billion in savings about 18 months into its Re:Nissan turnaround, Espinosa told investors on the call. The program targets ¥500 billion in savings. Announced in May 2025, it also calls for a 20,000-person workforce reduction and for production plants to fall from 17 to 10 by FY2027.
Nissan said it expects to announce its next business plan in February 2027.
